[sceptic]

Scoring: IMP

---

West North East South

 -     -     Pass  2♦
 3NT   4♦    Pass  Pass
 4♠    Pass  Pass  Pass
 

[han]

West doesn't like to double very much.. or so it seems.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

3NT was the proctical bid.

Dbl instead of 4S is safer,
but you found your contract.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Al_U_Card]

Did east have a good reason for not bidding 5C over 4D? His pard showed values for a NT game opposite a yarb and he has a 6 card suit and values......Even if pard has a single suiter and 9 tricks, if 5C doesn't make then 5 of something else will...

[Walddk]

Over a Multi 2♦ all strong hands (17+ unbalanced, 19+ balanced) should double first. By bidding a direct 3NT you will never convince partner that you have a balanced 24 count.

If 3NT exists at all, it should show something like

Ax
Kx
xx
AKQxxxx

[Walddk]

Here is one defence (of many) you could use in second seat over a Multi 2♦:

Dbl = 12-14 balanced, usually at least 4-3 in the majors, or any 17+ (not 15-18 balanced). The 17+ hand will bid again.
2♥ = Natural, 4+, 12-16, take-out of a weak 2♠.
2♠ = Natural, 4+, 12-16, take-out of a weak 2♥.
2N = Natural, 15-18. System on.
3mi = Natural, constructive, non-forcing.

Roland

[hrothgar]

Walddk, on Feb 10 2006, 03:03 AM, said:

Here is one defence (of many) you could use in second seat over a Multi 2♦:

Dbl = 12-14 balanced, usually at least 4-3 in the majors, or any 17+ (not 15-18 balanced). The 17+ hand will bid again.
2♥ = Natural, 4+, 12-16, take-out of a weak 2♠.
2♠ = Natural, 4+, 12-16, take-out of a weak 2♥.
2N = Natural, 15-18. System on.
3mi = Natural, constructive, non-forcing.

Roland

This is (essentially) a defense that I've head called "Dixon"
its one of my favorites over the opponents multi 2D

[FrancesHinden]

The defence Roland described is almost universal in England, the 'home' of the multi. However, most play slightly wider ranges than Roland has proposed:

Double = good 12 - 15 balanced or very strong
2NT = 16 - 19 balanced
non-jump suits = natural, quite wide ranging
jump to 3M = natural, strong (NF)

so double-and-bid-again is 20+ balanced or Acol-2 type strength
it's vulnerable to pre-emption, so it has to show a very good hand (similar-ish to double-then-bid after a 1-level opening)

So on your sample hand I would double 2D
4D was probably meant as 'pick-a-major'
4D I would double for take-out
I would then bid 4S over 4H. This shows an _enormous_ hand and partner probably ought to move.

But it's not trivial to bid slam: an equivalent auction without the multi is
(2H) x (4H) P (P) ?
it's also not easy to bid slam then

[Kalvan14]

Slam is difficult to bid, and is not guaranteed before looking at the cards: if W holds the A♦ instead of the A♣, the slam fails.
I am surprised by the optimism that noth dsplays in looking for a pre-empt at 4-lev, vuln vs. non-vuln.
4♥X is 3 off (800 vs. a possible and a bit optimistic 980, but it might be 1100 as well, if the hearts are not 2-2).